EAST LANSING, MI – Bay City Western was pretty proud of its state runner-up showing in 2013.

But the Warriors are ready to rid themselves of that honor.

After earning their second straight berth in the Division 1 softball state final with a 2-1 win over Romeo, the Warriors are raring to be champions.

“It’s a dream come true (to be playing for the title),” Western senior Meredith Rousse said. “When I was in about sixth grade and my sister was playing, I remember wanting to be out there so bad. Now I look in the stands and see five little girls cheering and screaming ‘BCW!’ And I know they’re dreaming about it, too.”

By knocking off Romeo and Gatorade Player of the Year pitcher Taylor Weaver in the semifinal – with a two-out, two-run rally in the sixth inning – Western (40-3) clinched its winningest season in program history. Now the Warriors are after one prize that has eluded them.

Western takes on Portage Central at 10 a.m. Saturday at Michigan State University's Secchia Stadium for the Division 1 state championship.

The Western program has delivered five regional championships in the past six season, reaching the final four three times and coming within a 2-1 loss to Mattawan of winning it all a year ago. But runner-up doesn’t have a nice ring to it any more.

“They want to get that off their backs,” said Western coach Rick Garlinghouse, who sports a 328-77 record in 10 seasons at the helm. “I told them, every time I get on the MHSAA website, I have to look at Mattawan on there as the champion. I’ve been looking at that all year. That’s enough.”

Western has been coming through like a champion along the tournament trail. After trailing Hudsonville 2-0 in the sixth inning of the quarterfinal, the Warriors rallied for a dramatic 4-2 victory – capped by a two-run walkoff homer by Kelsie Popp.

After trailing Romeo 1-0 in the sixth in Thursday’s semifinal, they charged back again. This time Hannah Leppek and Popp strung together two-out doubles to take the 2-1 lead.

“We have clutch hitters all the way through the lineup,” said Rousse, whose sacrifice bunt helped spark the key inning. “I couldn’t name one girl who couldn’t come through like that for us. I just knew someone was going to do it.”

Rousse also made a dazzling catch and throw from the hole at shortstop to help preserve the victory, showing that the Warriors and willing and able to do everything it takes to become champions.

“If you want success -- and you want it even more than you want to breathe -- you’ll definitely find it,” she said.